Iran captures UK tanker: Hunt says there will be ‘serious consequences’ if Revolutionary Guard does not return control of British ship

As it happened

Map: Iranian authorities 'seize British tanker'

Iran has seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the tanker “Impero Stena” was seized Friday for “non-compliance with international maritime laws and regulations”.

UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned “if this situation is not resolved quickly there will be serious consequences”.

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Key Points

• Iran seizes British ship in Strait of Hormuz
• Second oil tanker turns sharply north towards Iran coast
• The alleged route of Stena Impero

[19 July 2019 20:06 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the ongoing incident in the Strait of Hormuz.

[19 July 2019 20:08 · Lucy Anna Gray]

The website of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, sepahnews.com, has said the British tanker "Impero Stena" was seized Friday for "non-compliance with international maritime laws and regulations" and was taken to an Iranian port.

[19 July 2019 20:26 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Deputy leader of Labour Tom Watson has said the reports coming out of the Strait of Hormuz are "of real concern".

[19 July 2019 20:31 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Credit: PA 

This is a screengrab from www.marinetraffic.com showing the route taken by the first oil tanker, Stena Impero.

[19 July 2019 20:32 · Lucy Anna Gray]

The owner of Stena Impero has confirmed that at around 16:00BST the ship was approached in international waters by small crafts and a helicopter and they are now unable to contact the vessel.

[19 July 2019 20:33 · Andrew Buncombe]

Hello. This is Andrew Buncombe in Seattle. Thanks for joining our coverage about the seizing of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf, apparently by Iranian forces

[19 July 2019 20:34 · Andrew Buncombe]

What we know so far is that the vessel,  the Stena Impero, which was bound for Saudi Arabia, say they have been unable to contact the vessel and it is 'heading north towards Iran'

[19 July 2019 20:36 · Andrew Buncombe]

Iran's Revolutionary Guards has claimed it is behind the capture of the British-flagged tanker. It follows Britain's seizure of an Iranian vessel earlier this month

[19 July 2019 20:37 · Andrew Buncombe]

Here's our most story by Jon Sharman, Kim Sengupta and 

Borzou Daragahi: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-uk-british-tanker-strait-hormuz-stena-impero-a9013061.html

[19 July 2019 20:41 · Andrew Buncombe]

Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue, saying he will talk to the UK about the issue